Accidental deaths of children cast a shadow over Labor Day weekend

It was a tragic Labor Day weekend for some families in Northeast Texas as two unrelated incidents resulted in accidental deaths Friday night.

Three Lone Oak children died in a car crash on U.S. Highway 69 in Grayson County Friday night. Alexander Samuel Grandy, 14; Amara Leah Grandy, 13; and Alvin Gary Grandy, 10; all died in the crash. Their father, Hyrum Grandy, was hospitalized. Texas Department of Public Safety officials said the 2006 Hyundai Elantra Grandy was driving swerved to avoid an accident, struck a Ford F-150 pickup truck and was then struck by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. The three children all attended schools in Rains ISD. A GoFundMe account has been set up at to support the Grandy family following their loss.

Elsewhere in Royse City, a high school student died from an apparent accidental shooting Friday night. Around 11 p.m. Friday, Royse City police responded to a 911 call on County Road 2597 and found 18-year-old Alexander Villegas, who had been shot in the stomach. According to police, Villegas told police he had the gun in his hand when it accidentally went off. Villegas was treated at the scene and taken to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. Royse City police say the incident is under investigation.